Manifolding method and means



June 30, 1942. R. A. WILLIAMS 2,288,149

MANIFOLDING METHOD AND MEANS Filed March 25, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR.

fi oerL-flloga dad/m5 BY ATTORNEY.

June 30, 1942. R. A. WILLIAMS MANIFOLDING METHOD AND MEANS Filed March25, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 NTOR.

ATTORNEY.

June 30, 1942. R. A. WILLIAMS MANIFOLDING METHOD AND MEANS Filed March25, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 3lIllII,lllllI'lll[III/I'll!llllllllllllllllllii7iiP-::1Illl IN VENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

June 30, 1942. R. A. WILLIAMS 2,288,149

MANIFOLDING METHOD AND MEANS Filed March 25, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 June30, 1942. R. A. WILLIAMS MANIFOLDING METHOD AND MEANS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5Filed March 25, 1940 INVOR. a Mam ORNEY m/ k MW w & f

Patented June 30, 1942 mmronnmo METHOD AND MEANS Robert Alonzo Williams,Chicago, 111., assignor to Ditto, Incorporated, Chicago, 111., acorporation of West Virginia Application March 25, 1940, Serial No.325,774

18 Claims.

This invention relates to a method and means for assembling paper sheetsin groups wherein an edge portion of each sheet is offset from thecorresponding edge portion of an adjoining sheet 'to expose a surface oneach sheet for printing or analogous purposes.

One of the particular objects of the invention resides in the provisionof a special sheet receiving and guiding means adapted for use as anauxiliary attachment for duplicating machines to feed a certain numberof blank sheets or printed forms as a group into the duplicating machineso that each sheet has a corresponding edge portion exposed to receivecopy transferred thereto in the movement of the group of sheets throughthe duplicating machine.

A further object is the provision of improved paper or sheet feedingmeans for cooperation with the aforesaid guiding means to deliver asheet into a plurality. of guiding channels or pockets in the guidingmeans.

Still further objects relate to details of the construction andoperation of the feeding means whereby the same is rendered automatic inits operation to load a predetermined number of the sheets into theguiding means.

Yet another object is the provision of means for assembling ormanifolding paper sheets into prepared sheaves for use with certainduplicating equipment, the sheets in the sheaves each having an edgeportion offset in parallelism with respect to the corresponding edgeportion of an adjoining sheet so that each sheet of the sheaf mayreceive an imprint at the same time.

A still further object relates to the provision of a method of formingsheets into books or sheaves of the type hereinabove characterized,which method includes the feeding of individual sheets into adjoiningangularly offset guides with corresponding edge portions of the sheetsoffset as aforesaid and the adjoining lower edge portions of the severalsheets exposed from the guides for engagement simultaneously by someform of paper fastening means, for example a paper welding or pastingdevice, which secures the sheets in sheaf form for convenient handlingand insertion as a unit in various printing and duplicating machines.

Other objects and novel aspects of the-invention relate-to variousdetails of construction, as well as the cooperative arrangement of thevarious parts of the devices hereinafter described in view of theannexed drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective of the feeding end of a duplicating machine withthe novel sheet feeding and guiding means in operating position there-Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective of the steping ratchet for thefeeding carriage with parts shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective of the feeding means showing thestepping ratchet and clutch, the latter partly in section;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective of the guiding means with thefeeding means removed;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective of sheets fastened in a sheaf in theoverlapped relationship in which they must pass through the duplicatingmachine with relatively ofiset legendreceiving or imprinting areasexposed for simultaneous impression;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section through the feeding and guiding means ofFig.1 modified for direction at a sharper feeding angle, the view beingtaken in a direction corresponding to lines 6-6 of Fig. 1; I

Fig. 7 is an elevation with parts shown in section of a multiple sheetfeeding and securing mechanism, which is a modification of thearrangement of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section looking in the direction of lines 8-8 ofFig. 7, looking down on one of the multiple feeders Fig. 9 is asectional detail through one of the slip clutches as viewed along lines9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a section looking down on lines l0-l 0 of Fig. 7 showing thepaper fastening or welding mechanism;

Fig. 11 is a perspective fragment of the releasable sheet supportingshelf or tray;

Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional fragment through one of the guides, thesecuring means, and paper supporting pan, taken along lines l2--l2 ofFig. 7.

In accordance with certain methods for transferring data in the natureof writing or printing to a plurality of sheets at one time, the severalsheets 20 are arranged in the manner shown in Fig. 5 so that each sheethas one edge portion 20a, 20b 20g offset in parallelism with theadjoining sheets to expose an elongated area adequate to receive thetransferred matter, the transfer preferably being effected by themovement of all of the sheets 20 as a group relative to duplicatingmeans including for example a gelatin or other master duplicatingsurface 21 carried on a drum 22 which is rotated in a direction to carrythe sheets 20 from a position such as shown in Fig. 5 to a dischargepoint in the duplicating machine, all in a manner well known in the art.

Heretofore, the sheets 20 have been secured together as a sheaf byvarious expediencies including the interlocking of the sheets by tab andslot means, as well as the gluing of the sheets, along a lower edgeportion 23 of the sheaf, the sheaves being prepared in this manner priorto insertion in the duplicating machine. The novel sheet feeding andguiding means of the present invention makes it possible to prepare thesheaves in advance for subsequent placement in the duplicating machine,or is capable of cooperation with the duplicating machine to feedunattached sheets in the required ofiset relationship, as desired.

The form of duplicating machine shown in part in Fig. 1 includes afeeding platform 24 adjacent the duplicating drum 22, and a sheetreceiving or positioning frame or plate 25 pivotally mounted on theplatform 24 as at 25 (Figs. 4 and 6 also) so that the lower edge portion21 of the frame lies above certain paper positioning and feeding fingersincluding spaced stationary fingers 28 and interfitting depressiblefingers 29 (Figs. 4, 5 and 6).

As seen in Fig. 4, the depressible fingers 29 are mounted on a rockshaft 30 which is periodically rocked by action of a cam arm 3| and itscam roller 33 riding on a cam 34 movable with the drum 22 so that asheet of paper or the like may drop between the fingers 28 and 29 to bepicked up by the drum and pressed against the duplicating surface ormaster sheet 2| cooperably with a presser roller 35 .(Figs. 4 and 6)which is also mounted on a rock shaft 35 actuated by cam means 31cooperating with a cam 38 on the drum so that the presser roller movesforward in timed relation to the opening of fingers29 to press the paperagainst the drum for imprinting purposes, the paper being subsequentlystripped from the drum by means not shown and discharged from themachine. So much of the duplicating mechanism is old in the art.

In order to utilize the offset sheet arrangement 20 shown in Fig. 5, theindividual sheets must be manually positioned in the manner shown so faras the edges 20a, 20b 20g are concerned, or especially prepared sheavesmust be employed.

The present invention provides a sheet guiding means consisting ofspaced horizontal bars 40 and 4| (Figs. 1 and 4) rigidly joined attheir. ends as at 42, with a plurality of guide channels 43 securedthereto in parallel planes cutting across the bars. Each guide channelis preferably constructed of a thin sheet of metal bent back upon itselfalong opposite vertical edges to provide a forward lip 44 which isattached as by welding or soldering to the front bar 40, and a rearwardlip 45 resting against the backwall of the next adjacent guide andaflixed to the rear bar 4|. At their bottoms, the several guide channelsare welded or otherwise secured to parallel cross rods 45 and 41 so thatthe entire assembly of channels is a rigid unit which may beconveniently lifted into and out of operative position on the paperreceiving plate or frame 25 as illustrated in Figs. 1, 4 and 6.

If desired, the foregoing guide structures may be seated in the frame 25as illustrated in Fig.2

6 with the lower edge of the assembly, and particularly the lower rod 45resting on the forward edge portion 24a of the table 24. The gu1de frame25 is provided with horizontally sliding clamps 48 (Figs. 1, 4 and 6)moving on a crossrod 49 and held in adjusted positions by set screws 50binding against an offset top edge portion of frame 25. The clamps 48are provided with vertically extending flanges 5| which are movedagainst the opposite vertical edges of the guide channel assembly asshown particularly in Fig. 6, the set screws 50 being turned down to fixthe guide means on the frame.

Individual paper sheets 20 may then be dropped manually into the severalguides or channels 43 from the top, and thereafter the duplicating drumis started. The lower edge portions 23 of the individual sheets willrest upon the fingers 29, which are normally raised as in Fig. 6, but asthe drum rotates from its starting position, fingers 29 are lowered awayby action of the cam means 33-34, and at the proper moment the presserroller 35 is moved which is similarly positioned on the masterduplicating gelatin sheet 2|.

Means for feeding individual sheets automatically into the guidechannels includes the provision of a feeding carriage generallyindicated at 55 in Figs. 1 and 6'and consisting of a casting having abase portion 55 slidably mounted upon a horizontal rack bar 51 which issupported on posts 58 connected by channel or angle arms 59 to the upperframe bars 40 and 4| of the guide channel assembly, the lower ends ofthe posts being provided with feet or stanchions 50 adapted to rest uponthe table 24, when the assembly is in position on frame 25.

The carriage 55 includes a tray portion 60 inclined toward a downwardlycurved discharge mouth 5| provided with a cover plate 52 and oppositesidewalls 53 each having mounted thereon a spring presser arm 54 with asponge rubber pad 55 movable through an opening in the sidewall to bearagainst the side of a stack of paper sheets 55 (Fig. 6) firmly enough toprevent the sheets from sliding down the chute portion 5l-52.

Means for ejecting sheets one at a time from stack 55 includes a pair offriction wheels .51 mounted on a shaft 58 carried between smaller rockerarms 59 on a tubular shaft '10 seated in bosses ll forming part of thecarriage casting and cover plate casting. As seen best in Fig. 6, thefriction wheels are driven at a relatively high rate of speed by a belt12 working on a pulley 13 on the driving shaft 10a within tubular shaftl0 and pulley 14 on the smaller driven shaft 58.

Normally the friction wheels-rest on the topmost sheet of the stack 55and when rotated counter-clockwise in Fig. 6 vigrously sweep the sheetdown the chute. The driving shaft I0 connects with a speed reducer 15(Fig. 1) through a hand operated clutch 15 including an operating lever11 and a normally released dog 18 (Fig. 3) actuated by a trip vIll todisengage the clutch tooth and break the driving connection between theshaft 10 and speed reducer. The speed reducer is drivlngly connected toa small electric motor 8| carried on a bracket arm 82 fixed on thecarriage.

In order that the ejection of sheets from the stack in the carriage willoccur in timed relation to the movements of the carriage, the frictionwheels are periodically raised and lowered from engagement with the topof the stack, this being accomplished by the relatively slow rotation ofa cam shaft 83 joumaled on the bosses of the carriage casting andcarrying cams 84 against the arcuated undersides of the rocker arms 69.The cam shaft 83 is driven through a further gear reduction effected bya small gear 85 on the driving shaft 10 and a larger gear 86 on the camshaft. Thus, the friction wheels are driven at a relatively rapid ratethrough an increased ratio drive 1314, while the cams 84 move at aslower rate through the reduced ratio drive 85-88 to assure drivingcontact of the wheels with the paper for positive ejection.

Once the clutch has been set, the carriage will step automaticallyacross the rack, such action being efiected through a stepping ratchetmechanism shown particularly in Fig. 2 wherein it will be seen that aspecial cam 81 is mounted on an extension of the cam shaft 83, and thereis provided a rachet lever 88 pivoted on a stud 89 carried on a bracketarm 90 forming part of the carriage casting. The ratchet lever ispermitted to shift axially of its pivotal mounting on the stud by actionof a spring 8|, so that the lower end portion 880, may slip over theteeth 51a on the carriage supporting rack responsive to clockwisemovement (Fig. 2) of the ratchet lever under influence of its camfollower 88b working in the cam track 81a of the special cam and whichis effective to oscillate the lever from the dotted to the full linepositions shown in Fig. 2 and thereby move the carriage in steps intimed relation to the raising and lowering of the friction wheels inejecting sheets from the stack in the chute.

When the hand clutch means 11-19 has been set, the carriage structure 55will be moved step by step automatically by action of the cam andratchet means 81-88, from the starting position shown in Fig. 1 to theleft hand end of the rack bar 51, where the carriage will beautomatically stopped by engagement of the trip 19 on the hand clutchwith a tripping cam arm 92 mounted on a runner 92a slidable on the rackbar and provided with a detent 92b engaging in the rack teeth to holdthe runner in adjusted positions. Thus the carriage may be made to stopat any position by sliding the cam arm 92 to proper position (Figs. 1and 3).

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 6, the discharge mouth 8| of the feedingchute is disposed at an angle for alignment with the upper ends of eachof the guiding channels 43 as the carriage is stepped across the rack,and such movement of the carriage is calculated to occur in timedrelation to the ejection of the sheets from the stack 66 by the risingand falling action of the rotating friction wheels, so that as thecarriage is moved into its positions of alignment with each guide, asheet will be quickly swept from the stack into the guide, andthereafter the carriage will move to the next position, step by step,until the clutch trip 18 is depressed by the cam arm 92 as aforesaid.

In Fig. 6 the base portion 56a of the carriage casting is heightened todispose the tray portion 60 at a sharper angle for increasing thegravity component to facilitate the discharge of stiffer gradesof paper.

A peculiarity of the novel manifolding method and mechanism resides inthe fact that, whereas the major. portion of the several sheets isdisposed in its own plane at an angle to the plane of the duplicatorsheet, and approximately parallel to the plane of the adjoining sheets,the lower ends of all of the sheets are bent ,or twisted by theoppositely spaced stationary fingers 28 (Figs. 4 and 6; see also 12)so-as to lie in a substantially common plane (Fig. 10) by reason ofwhich the entire group of sheets may be fed in overlapping relationshipuniformly into theduplicating machine, with each of the legend orimprinting areas 28a, 201), etc., lying substantially flat against thegelatin sheet 2|, to be pulled by the latter from the guides inimprinting action.

In the operation of the new feeding and guiding means for manifolding orassembling sheets for the purpose set forth, the guide structure4ll-4l43-48-41, and the associated carriage structure, is mounted on thetable 24 with the guide structure resting in the frame 25 and clamped inpositionby the means 58-5l. Assuming that a stack of sheets 86 has beenpositioned in the chute portion 88 of the carriage as in Fig. 6, thecarriage is manually restored to the position of Fig. 1 by springing theratchet lever 88 from the rack teeth, and with motor 8| running, clutchlever 11-19 is operated to connect the driving shaft 10 for rotation bythe speed reducer unit 15, whereupon the friction wheels 61 are rotatedand cams 84 are rotated to lower the rockers 69 so that the frictionwheels may engage the topmost sheet of the stack and,

send the sheet rapidly down the chute into the first guide channel 43with the bottom edge of the sheet resting on the now raised fingers 29(Fig. 6) of the duplicating machine feed means.

Meanwhile, the carriage stepping cam 81 will be rotating to pivot thestepping lever 88 and move the carriage into alignment with the nextguide channel 43, and the friction wheels will again be lowered onto thestack to eject another sheet and so-on until the carriage movesinto itslast position at the left of Fig. l, where the tripping cam arm 92 willpivot the trip 19 and release the clutch 16 preparatory to therestoration of the carriage to starting position by the attendant, whostarts the duplicating drum in the usual manner by operation of anotherclutch (not shown), which effects rotation of the drum and withdrawal ofthe sheet supporting fingers 29 and movement of the presser roller 35against the lower exposed portions of the group of sheets against thegelatin duplicating sheet 2|, which effects withdrawal of the group ofsheets from the guide channels preparatory to the feeding of a newgroup.

In the arrangement of Fig. 7, the novel feeding and guiding mechanism isemployed to assemble the individual sheets and secure the same insheaves for use in a duplicating machine such as described inconjunction with the showing of Fig. 1. However, in the device of Fig. 7the sheet feeding chutes are stationary and multiplied in numbercorresponding to the number of guides 43a, and the aligned sheets aresecured together, as by a form of paper welding mechanism, so that theymay be handled and stocked, ready for use by simply being fed into theimprinting or duplicating machine, as by placing a sheaf such asillustrated in Fig. 5 on the frame 25 (the guide means 43 etc. beingremoved) and the entire group of sheets being fed through theduplicating machine in proper alignment by virtue of their mutualattachment.

The device of Fig. '1 includes an arcuate overhead support I mounted asat IOI upon a I frame structure I02 provided with cross bearers I03supporting a bank of guide channels 43a, identical in construction tothe guides 43 heretofore described except that they are preferablymounted in a heavier frame I04. Fixedly aligned with the upper. mouth orentrance to each guide channel is the discharge end I05 of a paper orsheet feeding chute appropriately curved so that its upper or feedingend I00 may lie alongside the arcuate support I00 for attachment theretoby clamp means I01.

As in the case of Figs. 1 and 3, the feeding mechanism of Fig. 7includes in associationwith each chute a pair of friction feeding wheelsI00 (Fig. 8 particularly) mounted on rocker arms I09 carried by atubular'shaft II 0 on boss means III forming part of the correspondingchute cover. II2. Pulley means II3 spins the friction wheels asheretofore described, the shafts IIO of each feeding unit extending intoa uni-directional clutch II4 drivingly associated through small pinionsH5 with a semi-circular gear rack IIB mounted for oscillatory motion asby the clamps H141 and the pivot mounting II'I. Clutches II4 are of thefree-wheeling variety including,'as seen in the section of Fig. 9, adriven ring II8 rotatable with pinion H5 and engaged by bearing balls H9working in eccentrically pitched notches in a driven hub I20 which isfast with the inner shaft IIOa inside the tubular shaft 0, pulley meansII3 being fast with the inner shaft to be rotated by the latter when theslip clutch takes hold in one direction, that is to say when the ringsIII! are rotated clockwise, Figs. 8 and 9. Thus, when the common arcuaterack 6 moves upwardly from the position of Fig. '7 (i. e.,anti-clockwise) the clutches II4 slip and idle, but when the rack movesin the opposite direction, the clutches take hold and all of thefriction wheels are rotated to eject one sheet from each stack, rockersI09 being lowered by rotation of cams I 09a on shaft I I5b driventhrough gears II5a set in one of the bosses III and driven from innershaft IIIla. Broadly, the sheet ejecting means of Fig. '1 operates inthe same manner as the ejector of Fig. 1.

- In order to have the friction wheels I08 which lie to the left of avertical center line through Fig. 7 rotate in the proper direction(since their respective chutes are reversed with respect to the rightside of said line) the pulley belts for the corresponding pulley means 3are twisted in the known manner to effect the necessary reversal ofrotation (anticlockwise). As in the case of the device of Fig. l, thesheet stacks 86 are prevented from falling in their chutes by springgrippers I2I constructed like the pressers 64-65 of Fig. 1.

When the several sheets are fed into the guides 430. by the feedingmeans just described, their bottom edges rest upon a reciprocable pan orshelf I22 (Figs. 10, 11, 12) slidably mounted as at I23 on a stationarywelder bracket I24 fixed on rods I25 beneath the set of guide channels43a, the sheets resting on the pan between male and female paper weldingdies I26 and I21, the former of which is removably secured as at I29 toa movable welder bracket I30, while the latter die I21 is-removablysecured as at I28 to a stationary welder bracket I24. The movable welderbracket aseauo pan as aforesaid, the upper portions of each sheet arestill disposed in the corresponding guide 43, each in its own planeparallel or nearly so to the planes in which the adjoining sheets aresituated; but it will appear from an examination in Fig. 10 that'thebottom portions of the several sheets lie in a common plane into whichthey have been twisted by the spaced stationary fl'ngers I20, in thearrangement of Fig. 6, or by a common guiding funnel or trough I00 (Fig.12) secured to the frame I04 as at IUI beneath the bottoms of the.several guides 43a.

This funnel has downwardly sloping opposite sides curving into anarrowed mouth which lies just above the dies I26 and I21.

The common sheet feeding rack H3 is oscillated by a main crank disc I32(Fig. '7) connected as at I34 with a crank arm I33 reciprocated by thedisc, the latter being driven through a worm connection I35 by a motorI36. In properly timed relation to the ejecting operations of the rack,the male die I26 is moved forward to press the ejected lower edgeportions I31 of the sheets against the female die, thus providing amultitude of very small interlocking perforations I38 (Fig. 5) in theseveral sheets to secure the same as a unit or sheaf which may beconveniently handled without danger of the sheets being separated, butwhich nevertheless permits separation of one or more sheetsdeliberately.

It is contemplated that the dies I26, I21 may be employed to pressgummed tape against opposite sides of the commonly aligned portions ofthe sheets, the tape being fed with the sticky side toward the paperbetween one of the dies and the sheets from positions at one side or theother of the die holders, the opposite ends of the tape thus appliedbeing sheared by suitable shearing means carried by the dies.

Movementof the die as aforesaid is accomplished by rotation ofeccentrics I39 (Figs. '7 and 11) fast on the motor shaft I36a, theeccentrics I39 transiently engaging depending lugs I 40 on the movablebracket I30. The sheet supporting pan I 22 is normally thrust forwardinto sheet-supporting position beneath the open dies by action ofsprings I4I (Figs. 10 and 12), the pan being pushed out of the way bythe advancing die and latched in retracted position by latch dogs I42(Figs. 10 and 11) pressed into engagement with keepers I43 on alongitudinally shiftable release bar I44. The arrangement provides thatafter the dies have been pressed fully into the sheets, following afeeding action of the means I08I IS, the release bar I44 is transientlyengaged by a roller I45 on the main crank disc I32 and shifted towardthe right against the effort of normal spring I40 so as to withdrawkeepers I43 from latch dogs I42 to free pan I22 for restoration bysprings I4I quickly to normal sheet-supporting position.

Release of the pan as aforesaid does not occur until the movable die hasabruptly'withdrawn from engagement with the companion die responsive todisengagement of the eccentrics I39 from bracket lugs I 40, so that thesheets will have time to drop into a discharge chute I41.

Assuming that a supply of paper sheets has been deposited in each chuteportion I08. the operation of the device of Fig. 7 is such that whilethe main crank disc I82 is moving the common feeding rack H6 in its idlestroke (wherein clutches H4 are free), the movable die' unit I26-I30 isadvancing toward the companion die, the sheet supporting pan beingpushed back and latched by the latch dogs I42 and releasable keepersI43. By the time the common rack starts back on its feeding stroke tospin the friction wheels I08 and sweep the topmost sheet from each stackdown the corresponding chute and into the corresponding guide 43a, camI45 will have pushed the release bar I 44 to free the dogs I42 andpermit the pan to snap back into sheet-supporting position prior to thearrival of the newly ejected sheets into the guides.

The next group of sheets being thus in position between the dies, themovable die means IZIi-I30 again starts toward the stationary die toperforate the sheets and secure the same for handling as a unit, themovable die means retreating far enough to permit the unit or sheaf ofoffset sheets to drop into chute I41 before the supporting pan is againreleased for a repetition of the cycle.

The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized by modifiedforms of the arrangement hereinbefore described in detail for purposesof illustration, and such detailed description is not to be construed aslimiting the invention except as may be provided in the appended claims,which are intendedto include all equivalentarrangements and forms fairlycoming within their call.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protectby Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a sheet assembly device, sheet guiding means including a pluralityof guides arranged in ofiset relationship to each other for completelyseparating a plurality of sheets and holding them shifted edgewisediflerentially in overlapping relationship whereby the sheets may bewithdrawn simultaneously from the guides in overlapping relationship asaforesaid and each sheet will have a copy-receiving area exposedadjacent the aforesaid parallel edge portions.

2. Sheet assembling means including a plurality of guides in obliqueposition with respect to each other mounted in serially ofisetoverlapping relationship and providing a plurality of parallel runwayseach adapted to receive a sheet and position the same in a planeextending in approximate parallelism with the plane of an adjoiningsheet whereby each sheet will have an edge portion offset in parallelismwith the corresponding edge portion of an adjoining sheet, said guideseach having an opening through which the sheet therein may pass intooverlapped offset relationship with the other sheets as aforesaid uponwithdrawal of the sheets as a group from said openings.

3. In a manifolding apparatus, in combination, a plurality of sheetreceiving guides mounted in parallelism in serially offset relationshiand each having corresponding entrance and exit openings at oppositeends whereby sheets may be passed therethrough into overlappingrelationship with corresponding edge portions oifset to expose identicalcopy-receiving areas on each sheet, a movable sheet-carrying devicemounted for movement edgewise transversely of the apparatus intoalignment successively with the entrance to each guide, means for movingsaid sheet-carrying device into positions of alignment as aforesaid formoving the sheets edgewise into overlapping relationship, and meansdriven cooperatively with said last-mentioned means for ejecting a sheetfrom said device following movement of the same into alignment with theentrance to a guide as aforesaid.

4. Sheet assembling'apparatus comprising, in combination, a plurality ofserially offset sheet receiving guides having adjoining entranceopenings at one end and adjoining exit openings opposite thereto, asheet feeding carrier mounted for movement into alignment with any ofsaid entrance openings, mechanism for moving said carrier into positionsof alignment as aforesaid, said carrier being adapted to carry sheets ina stack, sheet ejecting means on said carrier and mounted for movementinto and out of engagement with the topmost sheet on said stack and formovement to displace the topmost sheet in a direction into the entranceopening of a guide with which the carrier is aligned, together withmeans driven in timed relation to the movements of said carrier intoalignment with the guides as aforesaid for actuating said ejecting meansto move the same into engagement with the topmost sheet on the stack asaforesaid and displace said sheet into a guide following movement of thecarrier into alignment therewith.

5. Sheet assembling apparatus comprising, in combination, a plurality ofrelatively flat sheet guides having opposite sheet passages and mountedin a series in approximately parallel planes each with a side portionextending between the respective oppositepassages thereof offset fromthe corresponding side portion of an adjoining guide, a sheet feedingcarrier adapted to support a supply of sheets, means mounting saidcarrier for movement into alignment with the several passages at one endof the guides to feed sheets into the latter, mechanism for moving thecarrier step by step into alignment as aforesaid, mechanism on saidcarrier operable .to eject sheets one at a time therefrom into theguides with which the carrier is aligned, motor means and a clutcharranged to be set to drivingly connect the motor means with saidcarrier moving mechanism to effect step by step movement of the carrieras aforesaid from a starting position at one end of the series ofguides, clutch tripping means movable into positions of adjustmentrelative to said guides for releasing the clutch to stop the carrier ata desired position, and means driven by said motor means through saidclutch for actuating said ejecting means following each alignment of thecarrier with a guide to feed a sheet therein, said sheets being movableinto relatively overlapping ofiset relationship from the passages at theends of the guides opposite from those into which the sheets are fed asaforesaid.

6. In a sheet assembling apparatus including a plurality of sheetreceiving and aligning guides, sheet feeding means comprising a carriermounted for movement into successive positions of alignment with theguides for moving the sheets ,edgewise into overlapping relationship toeach other, stepping mechanism cooperable with said mounting means andcarrier for moving the latter step by step into alignment with theseveral guides, mechanism driving said stepping mecha nism, and means onsaid carrier driven in timed relation to the stepping operations of saidstepping mechanism for ejecting a sheet into a guide following eachmovement of the carrier into alignment with one of the same in themanner aforesaid.

'7. In apparatus of the class described including a plurality ofserially aligned sheet guides, sheet feeding means including a sheetcarrier mounted for movement into alignment with said guidessuccessively, mechanism driving said carrier from a starting position atone end of the series of guides toward the opposite end thereof foralignment as aforesaid, sheet ejecting mechanism movable with saidcarrier and operable periodically to eject one sheet at a time into aguide with which the carrier is aligned, means driving said drivingmechanism and said ejecting mechanism in timed relationship to effectejection of a sheet into a guide following movement of the carrier intoalignment therewith, together with means for starting said carrier undermanual control and for stopping the carrier automatically at a desiredposition of alignment as aforesaid.

8. In a sheet assembling apparatus, in combination, guides mounted inparallel planes in a series and each offset from the other in adirection between the ends of the series, each guide having a sheetreceiving mouth at an upper end and a discharge mouth at a lower end, asheet feeding device associated with each guide, sheet supporting meansmovable into and out of sheet supporting position beneath said dischargemouths to support a sheet in each guide with a lower end portion exposedbeneath the guide, and sheet securing mechanism mounted to engageexposed portions of said sheets and operable to secure the same togetheras a group, together with mechanism driving said sheet feeding devices,said sheet supporting means, and said sheet securing mechanism inperiodically timed relation to dispose the supporting means insupporting position, actuate the feeding devices, and thereafter actuatethe securing mechanism and effect withdrawal of said supporting means topermit the secured group of sheets to pass from said guides.

9. In a sheet assembling apparatus, in combination, guides mounted inparallel planes in a series and each offset from the other in adirection between the ends of the series, each guide having a sheetreceiving mouth at an upper end and a discharge mouth at a lower end, asheet feeding chute associated with each guide, means for supporting astack of sheets relative to each chute, ejecting means associated witheach chute and operable to eject sheets one at a time from thecorresponding stack, mechanism actuating said ejecting meanssimultaneously and intermittently, means removab ly supporting a sheetin each guide with a lower portion exposed beneath the guide, and meansfor disposing the exposed portions of said sheets in a substantiallycommon plane whereby the sheets may be withdrawn in overlapping offsetrelationship as a group from said guides.

10. In a sheet assembling apparatus, in combination, a plurality ofguides arranged in serially offset relationship to dispose sheetstherein in approximately parallel planes with corresponding edgeportions offset in a direction between the ends of the series and eachguide having an entrance at an upper end and an exit at a lower endadjoining the aforesaid offset edge portion of a sheet disposed thereinas aforesaid, means releasably supporting the sheets in the guides witha lower portion exposed beneath the guide, and means operable to engagethe exposed portions of the sheets and secure the same together as agroup in overlapping offset relation- I ship such that each sheet willhave an area exposed adjoining the edge portion thereof which is offsetin the manner aforesaid.

11. In a sheet assembling apparatus, in combination, a plurality ofsheet receiving guides disposed in serially offset relationship, a sheetfeed ing chute associated with each guide and each chute beingconstructed to support a stack of sheets, means associated with eachchute for ejecting sheets one at a time from said stacks, into thecorresponding guides, a driving motor, and means drivingly connectingthe motor in common with all of the ejecting means for simultaneo'usactuation of the latter.

12. In a device of the class described, the combination with a pluralityof sheet receiving guides arranged in vertically parallel planes andoffset serially in a horizontal direction, of an arcuate support abovesaid guides and a plurality of sheet feeding chutes mounted on saidsupport with each chute having a lower end portion aligned with one ofsaid guides, each chute being provided with means adjacent said supportfor supporting a stack of sheets, a rotatable sheet ejecting wheel oneach chuteengageable with the topmost sheet in the corresponding stackto eject a sheet into the chute for movement into the correspondingguide, and driving means common to all of said ejecting wheels forsimultaneously actuating the latter in sheet ejecting operation.

13. In sheet assembling apparatus, in combination, a series of sheetretaining guides mounted in relatively overlapping disposition so thateach guide is offset from the next one in a direction between the endsof the series, each guide being arranged to position a sheet in a planeextending diagonally of a line joining the ends of the series, eachsheet being positioned as aforesaid in parallelism with the others, saidguides each having an entrance at an upper end and an exit at a lowerend thereof, a sheet supporting member yieldably urged intosheet-supporting position beneath said guides and mounted for withdrawalout of supporting position, means releasably and automatically latchingsaid supporting member in withdrawn condition, means beneath said guidesand above said supporting member for receiving the lower end portions ofsheets from said exits and turning the sheets into a substantiallycommon plane, sheet securing members mounted above said supportingmember on opposite sides of said common plane and at least one of thesame being movable toward the other securing member for securingcooperation therewith in gripping said lower ends of the sheetstherebetween, mechanism for feeding sheets into said guides, and drivingmeans operatively associated with said feeding mechanism, said securingmember, and said latching means for operation of the same in timedrelation to release the supporting member for movement into supportingposition, feed sheets into the several guides,

move the movable securing member against said withdrawn position,whereby said sheets may pass from said guides.

14. The method of manifolding sheets in a group in which the sheets arin overlapping re-' ceiving chute, a plurality of guide channels eacharranged to guide a sheet into said chute with an edge portion inparallel offset relationship with the corresponding edge portion of anadjoining sheet whereby to expose identical copy-receiving areas on eachsheet, and a retractable support at the bottom of said chute forreleasing the several sheets as a group while they are in overlappedrelationship.

16. Sheet assembling means comprising a support, spaced guide meansabove said support for positioning a plurality of sheets in parallelplanes and on edge upon said support, each sheet having a particularedge portion offset lengthwise of the support, and in parallelism, withrespect to an edge portion of an adjoining sheet to expose acopy-receiving area on each sheet, and means for withdrawing saidsupport from beneath the sheets whereby to deliver said sheets as agroup arranged in overlapping relationship.

17. Sheet assembling means comprising a plurality of overlapped guidechannels, each arranged to position a sheet therein with an edgewisecopy-receiving area extending in parallel spaced relation with respectto a similar area on an adjacent sheet in an adjoining channel, andmeans at one end of said channels for securing all said sheets togetherin overlapped relation while held in position in said channels to enablesaid sheets to be withdrawn as a group from said guide channels. 1

18. Sheet assembling means comprising a plurality of sheet guidingchannels each mounted to position a sheet in approximate parallelismwith the other sheets, and each channel being ofiset with respect toadjoining channels such that when the sheets are withdrawn from thechannels as a group they will lie in relatively overlapping relationshipand each sheet will have an edge portion offset from a correspondingedge portion of an adjoining sheetto expose an area thereon, and areceptacle below said channels having a removable support for the bottomedges of the overlapped sheets.

ROBERT ALONZO WILLIAMS.

